(VP) Commercial Director, Dance & Entertainment Brands

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment•New York, NY

51d•$170,000 - $220,000

About The Position

The (VP) Commercial Director, Dance & Entertainment Brands will be responsible for unlocking and optimizing the commercial potential of the performers for the New York Liberty, inclusive of team mascot, Ellie, and the Brooklyn Nets entertainment teams. The role will be oversee the development of a comprehensive licensing strategy, identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships & collaborations, expanding media and content opportunities (e.g., books, animation, digital content) and launching new consumer products. For Ellie, this individual will be tasked with transforming a highly visible and culturally resonant mascot into a powerful, revenue-generating brand. The individual will ultimately be challenged with assessing additional opportunities for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and crafting a long-term roadmap to expand commercially into different dance and entertainment verticals. This role calls for a deep understanding of intellectual property development, brand building and licensing, and has demonstrated the ability to translate emerging IP into scalable, commercial entities.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in licensing, brand management, and/or consumer products within the sports, entertainment, or media industries.
Demonstrated success in developing and monetizing IP-driven brands across multiple verticals, with specific experience in character licensing and branded content
Proven ability to originate, structure, and negotiate complex deals with entertainment studios, publishers, retailers, and licensees
Strong track record of launching and managing consumer product lines, with expertise in go-to-market strategy, design collaboration, and retail execution
A deep network of contacts across relevant industries
Excellent business judgment and ability to leverage data-based insights to inform decision-making
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting ideas to executive leadership and external partners
Entrepreneurial spirit rooted in action, curiosity, and a growth mindset

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive business plan to commercialize Ellie across the consumer products, media, retail, children’s content, and experiential categories
Craft a commercial plan for additional Nets and Liberty performance teams and identify opportunities to extend Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment's footprint in dance and performance entertainment
Lead end-to-end licensing strategy for the IP, including evaluation of categories, partner selection, negotiation of deals, and management of ongoing relationships
Identify and build high-value strategic partnerships across publishing, entertainment, retail, CPG, and/or digital media to grow our brands and reach target audiences
Oversee the development and commercialization of consumer product lines (e.g., apparel, toys, collectibles) in collaboration with internal Merchandising and Marketing teams
Drive the creation of original content including animated series, digital shorts and/or social-first storytelling, in partnership with content creators and studios
Serve as the primary liaison to the Liberty brand to steward Ellie’s identity, voice & positioning across all commercial expressions, ensuring consistency and resonance
Partner with internal and NBA/WNBA legal & brand teams to manage contracts, protect IP, and enforce brand guidelines across all licensing and partnership agreements
Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Community Relations, Merchandising, and Partnerships to fully integrate mascot and performer activations across platforms
Lead market research and consumer insight efforts to assess performance and guide content, product, and partnership decisions
Represent the mascot and performer brands at industry events, trade shows, and within licensing communities to build awareness and cultivate commercial opportunities